A review by isabyrne
House of Odysseus by Claire North

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

House of Odysseus is the second book in a trilogy retelling the Greek story of Persephone and her island, Ithaca, during the 18-year period that her husband Odysseus is off to war. In this book Persephone is reunited with characters old and new to face a new set of challenges. 

It is:
  • A “behind the scenes” look at overlooked characters from this great myth
  • Light, lyrical, immersive, and sensuous
  • Includes a strong cast that feels like a soap opera
  • Demonstrates the strength of female companionship and cunning
  • Written so that if you don’t want to read Book 1, you can jump right into this one

I was given this book as an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley and Orbit. This is part 2/2 reviewing The Songs of Penelope trilogy..  

SPOILER ALERT: This book is narrated by a different narrator than Book 1. In order to properly review the book, I will reveal who this narrator is. 

Narration and Prose: The prose in this book is my favourite aspect. It is grounded, descriptive, engaging, and sensuous. It is evident here that imbuing the prose with her narrator’s characteristics is one of North’s great strengths — it really feels like it is voiced by Aphrodite. This choice of narrator also matches the plot perfectly. Typical of our understanding of the goddess, there is a strong emphasis on the sensuous: this book is ripe with sensory detail and floral prose. Her voice is compelling: rolling forward at reflective moments, then reeling out with quick cadence during fast-paced ones. It also is incredibly funny: I found myself laughing out loud at many points. Aphrodite feels even more present in this book than Hera did in book 1. You feel her limits and wonder at the truth of the mysteries this island offers alongside her.

Plot: This book is more quickly paced than the first one. The way that it is plotted from the very first chapter is gripping. There is a cliffhanger or development at the end of almost every chapter which makes you want to read forward. The plot is constantly thickening in a way that is incredibly enthralling: there are lots of criss-crossed mysteries. We get to see the repercussions from the first book, discover new difficulties, and engage in more romantic entanglements.  

Characters: The cast of this book is abundant without being overwhelming. There are several new characters I greatly enjoyed, while the characters previously seen are also pushed into new and interesting directions. Penelope’s character in particular is much stronger in this book. Likewise, as in the first book, the goddesses all have strong and unique personalities, and feel evolved. Seeing them interact with one another and react to the action is once again a huge part of my enjoyment. 

I found the male characters to be quite strong in this book as well. Menelaus and Laertes both occupy exaggerated roles in this book, and I laughed at many occasions at their dialogue. They are both funny to read and good reflections on the tropes given the themes of the book. Kenamon (the Egyptian suitor) has also had interesting developments since book 1. I found it smart the way he is used as a plot device: the reader learns about the world through the eyes of a foreigner. 

Ending & Setup for Book 3: The ending of this book sets up well for the finale of the trilogy, especially if you have an idea of what happens in the original myth. While there is a decent cliffhanger, it still feels very satisfying and ties up most of the mysteries. I can’t wait to keep reading to see how Claire North will take on and twist the rest of the myth, and to see who the new narrator will be (if she follows her form of changing with each new book).

Overall, I found this to be a formidable and engaging book. It is well plotted and a delight to read. All of the things that were missing for me in Book 1 were not only addressed but became central features of what I enjoyed in this one. I enjoyed this book so much that I purchased the hard copy after having read the ARC, and will definitely be reading on to the last book in the trilogy.
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